Chapter 727

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Four neat little maids, with nimble hands and feet, shuttled back and forth, clearing tea sets, wiping tables, adjusting chairs, and mopping the floor.

In just a moment, they had cleaned Rongqing Hall anew, leaving no trace of the hall having been full of female guests just moments before.

Sister Yuanyang opened the nine-longevity jade incense burner on the table and lit a piece of top-grade dragon saliva incense. The curling smoke and the refreshing, extraordinary fragrance cleared away the restless atmosphere in the hall.

Jia Mu was in a relaxed mood and smiled: "I am over seventy years old and no longer hope for anything else; I only pray for the prosperity of my grandchildren's descendants and the glory of the family.

Cong is still in his mourning period, so it is inconvenient for him. Although he is older, he has let Baoyu take the lead."

Lady Wang felt very awkward hearing Jia Mu's words; even the old lady had changed these days.

How much did the old lady despise that boy in the beginning? When his lowly concubine mother gave birth to him and died of hemorrhaging, the old lady didn't even go to take a look.

Before that boy was ten, he only showed his face at the ancestral temple's annual sacrifice; he couldn't even cross the threshold of the West Prefecture, and he didn't even have a seat at the New Year's Eve family banquet.

To what extent did the old lady harbor resentment and dislike for that boy?

If it weren't for the fear that he would be tortured to death by the old master, causing the Jia family to have a father-son scandal and making the old lady lose all face.

How could that boy have turned misfortune into a blessing and been taken into the West Prefecture to be raised? Could the old lady have forgotten all these past events?

Now, whenever my Baoyu is mentioned, the old lady must bring up that boy, pretending to be fair, her words watertight, putting on a show for everyone to see.

The old lady has forgotten her former face and is now pretending to be a kind grandmother; who is she putting on this show for?

……

Lady Wang complained that Jia Mu was elevating Jia Cong and was just about to say a few cold words to dampen Jia Cong's momentum.

Jia Mu continued: "Seventy is rare since ancient times. I don't have many years left to live. If I can see Baoyu get married and add offspring, I will die without regrets."

Lady Wang heard the words about getting married and adding offspring, and the fire in her heart seemed to be extinguished by cold water.

These two casual sentences from Jia Mu were like sharp knives stabbing into her heart, causing Lady Wang a moment of heart-wrenching pain.

Although she had delayed Baoyu's wedding date by two months, the time left for her was still tight.

As long as Baoyu and Xia Gu Niang get married, the problem of her son being impotent and having no heirs will be impossible to hide.

If the old lady finds out that Baoyu is destined to have no descendants, will she still dote on him like before? I'm afraid that is absolutely impossible.

By then, the old lady will truly follow the natural course of events and put all her heart into Cong; what will happen to my Baoyu?

Who in the Jia family's second branch will pay any attention to us? We will surely be doomed and never have a chance to turn things around.

By then, I'm afraid the old lady won't even be dead yet, and the second branch will be worthless and become a big laughingstock in the circle of nobles.

Those gossiping women of the Jia family's eight branches in the Love Shenjing, who used to be jealous of the second branch's nobility, won't they be inciting trouble everywhere now...

Every time Lady Wang thought of these things, she felt cold all over, panicked and uneasy.

She absolutely did not want to end up in such a situation. Even if she was tormented and anxious every day, she had to support herself with all her might and not let anyone see any clues.

……

Jia Mu said: "Since the date for the wedding has been set with the Xia family, we should prepare the betrothal gifts. Before the end of the year, they must be sent to the Xia family; we must not lose face."

Lady Wang said: "Grandmother is right. Just now, after sending Mrs. Xia away, I let Zhang Pozi Wang go out to move around and prepare various betrothal gifts for the wedding."

Jia Mu knew this Zhang Pozi Wang; she was a trusted aide the daughter-in-law had brought from her maiden home. Not only was she capable in handling matters, but she was also literate, serving as Lady Wang's right-hand woman.

Jia Mu smiled: "She is also an experienced person; letting her handle this matter is reassuring."

Although Lady Wang felt deep fear and anxiety about Baoyu's marriage, she knew Jia Mu was an experienced person in the inner chambers and dared not show the slightest flaw in front of her.

She dared not omit a single word that should be said or a single thing that should be done, lest Jia Mu become suspicious.

Moreover, regardless of how things turn out later, the marriage between Baoyu and Xia Gu Niang was imperative, and she would not easily let go of the reputation and benefits that should be had.

She said: "Grandmother, Baoyu is the direct descendant of the Duke and the grandchild you dote on the most. His marriage is a major event.

And Baoyu is marrying the only daughter of the Xia family. Everyone in the Love Shenjing knows that the Osmanthus Xia family is the leader among imperial merchants, with vast wealth and great prosperity.

For the Rongguo Prefecture to marry such a wealthy young lady from a big family, all betrothal gifts and wedding ceremony expenses must not be sloppy; they must be abundant and proper in every way.

Otherwise, when the daughter-in-law enters the door, Baoyu will have no face, and if we lose the reputation of the Rongguo Prefecture and Grandmother, it will be losing a big thing for a small one."

……

Jia Mu was an old woman of the inner chambers; hearing these words from Lady Wang, how could she not understand the meaning behind her daughter-in-law's words? It was nothing more than asking the West Prefecture's public treasury to allocate silver for the wedding.

She asked: "You are Baoyu's own mother. For your own son's wedding, how much expenditure is needed to maintain reputation? How much silver have you calculated is needed?"

Lady Wang said: "If it were in the past, for a major event like Baoyu's wedding, it would take at least ten thousand taels to match the reputation of the Rongguo Prefecture.

But because Cong has inherited the title with a reduced rank, the West Prefecture has lost five hundred shi of noble estate, and the public treasury is not as abundant as before. I am aware of these circumstances.

I think the public treasury should only allocate eight thousand taels of silver, and the master and I will find ways to subsidize the rest; it is not good to let the family spend too much."

When Lady Wang said this, Sister Yuanyang, who was serving on the side, although she kept her face calm, felt some disdain in her heart.

She thought to herself, the second mistress is quite calculating. She opens her mouth and asks the public treasury for eight thousand taels to marry her own son; what is the difference between eight thousand and ten thousand taels?

Listening to the meaning of the second mistress's words, it sounds as if she has given the West Prefecture great consideration by asking for two thousand taels less; this is truly ridiculous.

Now it is the third young master who has inherited the family business; every cent in the West Prefecture's public treasury is the third young master's private property.

Asking the third young master to spend eight thousand taels of silver to save face for his cousin's wedding, what kind of logic is that? Who is the one getting married...

……

Jia Mu was also startled when she heard Lady Wang ask for eight thousand taels, and she immediately felt a headache.

Although the Jia family's first and second branches had not yet separated, it was in accordance with family etiquette for the West Prefecture's public treasury to allocate silver to subsidize a major event like Baoyu's wedding.

But the situation now was very different. Cong of the first branch had inherited the family business by imperial decree, and every tael of silver in the West Prefecture came from the West Prefecture's noble estate and ancestral property.

According to the imperial decree and clan ethics, it was all that boy's property.

Jia Mu had been the mistress of the house for many years and naturally knew that since Cong inherited the title, because the West Prefecture's noble estate had shrunk, the public treasury's annual income was no more than ten thousand taels of silver.

After Wang Xifeng took charge of the household last year, she repeatedly cut down the number of people and reduced various expenses, relying on this little silver to support the hundreds of people in the mansion.

Even so, Feng often cried poor in front of Jia Mu. Even if the granddaughter-in-law exaggerated a bit, Jia Mu knew it was eight or nine out of ten true.

Although Jia Mu doted on Baoyu the most and naturally hoped his marriage would be as grand as possible, she also knew the situation was different and the first and second branches were now distinct.

Her own daughter-in-law asked for eight thousand taels; this was the West Prefecture's income for recent years.

With Feng being so shrewd and formidable, she would definitely not loosen her grip, and although Cong didn't usually speak, he would likely show his displeasure if he heard this.

But for Baoyu's wedding, and marrying the daughter of the Osmanthus Xia family, without that much silver, it really wouldn't be possible to support that kind of grandeur.

……

Although Lady Wang worried that Baoyu's impotence would bury a huge hidden danger for this marriage.

But even if she worried and calculated every day, when the matter was right in front of her, she could not bear to give up the reputation and glory of the Rongguo noble family.

Seeing Jia Mu's hesitant expression, how could she not guess what Jia Mu was thinking? This was also within Lady Wang's expectations.

She said: "Grandmother, I also know that this expenditure for Baoyu will take up more than half of the West Prefecture's income for the year, but this marriage of Baoyu's is somewhat unusual.

Who in the Love Shenjing doesn't know now that Xia Gu Niang is the only daughter of the Xia family? Everyone says that whoever gets this girl is taking away a golden Bodhisattva.

Baoyu is not just marrying her as his wife; he is marrying the entire Xia family's assets. I don't know how many people envy this marriage.

People in the world hate others having things and laugh at those who don't. Now, I don't know how many people are watching Baoyu's marriage.

The Rongguo Prefecture is a Duke's household, a famous noble family in the Love Shenjing. If Baoyu's marriage lacks grandeur after marrying such a wife.

Those gossiping things outside don't know what kind of ugly things they will say.

Not to mention that Grandmother and the Jia family will lose face, Baoyu will also be a cut below his wife in the future; how will life be smooth after that?"

……

Jia Mu originally felt that it was a difficult matter for the West Prefecture's public treasury to spend eight thousand taels for Baoyu's wedding.

But after hearing these reasons from Lady Wang, her heart brightened slightly.

She said: "It is you, the mother, who thinks carefully. Although the Xia family's status is not as good as the Jia family's, their family is extremely wealthy, even more so than ours.

Now that the first branch has inherited the family business, the second branch is after all not as good as before. Your two families offsetting each other can be considered as everyone being even.

In the world of marriage, being well-matched in status and matching each other is the principle. Baoyu marrying this extremely wealthy Xia Gu Niang indeed cannot weaken the grandeur.

As long as this marriage is settled properly, even if they separate and establish their own household in the future, Baoyu won't be able to get much family business, but he will be able to eat and use endlessly for a lifetime.

If it can really be like this, even if I kick the bucket and go to the west, I won't have to worry about Baoyu suffering in the future."

Lady Wang saw that she had moved Jia Mu, and joy welled up in her heart. She said: "It is still Grandmother who considers the long term; this matter is just that principle.

Besides, Grandmother knows Cong's foundation. He has done such big business outside; how could he care about this eight thousand taels of silver..."

When Jia Mu heard these words from Lady Wang, her expression shifted slightly, naturally understanding the meaning behind her second daughter-in-law's words.

The Osmanthus Xia family are imperial merchants, and Cong is also on the edge of being an imperial merchant. That girl he is close to in Jinling is a rare female imperial merchant in the Great Zhou.

This Miss Qu is a thoughtful person; every festival she sends various gifts to the mansion according to the etiquette of a junior, and Grandmother has never been left out each time.

I hear that at the end of every season and mid-year, this girl also sends whole boxes of silver to the East Prefecture for that grandson of mine to spend.

How could Grandmother not know the rumors about such things? I don't know where that boy got such good fortune...

……

However, Jia Mu had some sense of proportion, unlike Lady Wang who was overly secretive, twisted, and jealous, so she did not take up Lady Wang's topic.

But after hearing this reason from Lady Wang, although she felt a bit more certain about the eight thousand taels of silver, she still lacked confidence.

The two mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a while, and Jia Mu only said she would find Feng to discuss this matter, letting Lady Wang return to the East Courtyard to manage Baoyu's wedding.

After Lady Wang left Rongqing Hall, Jia Mu felt tired from talking too much and let Sister Yuanyang come over to pound her back.

She muttered: "These trivial and awkward matters in a big family truly give people a headache. It's not as good as those small families with few people, where things are done cleanly."

Sister Yuanyang smiled with her pretty face and said: "That is because Grandmother has great fortune, being the ancestor of a Duke's household. With a big family and big business, naturally there are more things.

Actually, the third young master and the second mistress should be the ones worrying about the mansion's affairs; Grandmother should enjoy more peace and happiness."

Jia Mu smiled bitterly: "Who in this family is a fuel-saving lamp? If I don't speak about Baoyu's wedding, I'm afraid it won't be easy to handle.

This eight thousand taels of silver is not a small amount, but the second mistress is not wrong. Cong is not a person who lacks silver. Yuanyang, do you think this logic holds?"

……

Sister Yuanyang's eyes flickered, and she smiled: "Grandmother, I am just a little maid and don't understand many big principles, but I just listen to the words and the tone.

I feel that the second mistress's last words were not quite appropriate. Although it is rumored outside that Xinchun Hao is the third young master's industry, it is only managed by Miss Qu.

But the third young master has never acknowledged this matter, and Xinchun Hao is an imperial merchant of the Imperial Household Department; it has never been announced officially, so this matter cannot be considered true.

In recent years, Miss Qu has been thoughtful in her etiquette, sending festival gifts to both mansions every year-end, and everyone outside says she is the third young master's lover.

But this is just talk; Miss Qu and the third young master have no official status after all, so she cannot be considered a member of our family.

Therefore, the big business she does and the silver she earns cannot be counted on the third young master, and it has even less to do with the Jia family.

If we follow the second mistress's logic and count this reason to allocate eight thousand taels of silver from the public treasury, this reason might be too far-fetched.

If this silver is really spent for this reason, the rumors spreading outside would be ugly, and those people with rotten tongues would pull out all sorts of twisted words.

Wouldn't it become that because the third young master's lover can earn silver, the family spends eight thousand taels to let the second young master Baoyu have a grand wedding? These words are truly too ugly."

……

When Jia Mu heard these words from Sister Yuanyang, her old face burned a bit, and she felt that if such rumors really spread, Sister Yuanyang's words were already being polite.

Not to mention the old relatives and big families, just those gossiping women of the Jia family's eight branches in the Love Shenjing would not be so merciful with their words.

They would mostly be spreading it everywhere, saying that Cong's lover is decent and spends silver for Baoyu's grand wedding.

Good news doesn't leave the door, but bad news travels a thousand miles. If such rumors really spread, the face of the Jia family's east and west prefectures would be trampled on the ground.

Jia Mu, with her super-grade Duke's title and first-grade noble title, would never have the face to be a person again and would become a laughingstock in the circle of nobles until she died.

Sister Yuanyang continued: "Grandmother, you have known the third young master's temperament for these years. Some people eat soft but not hard, or eat hard but not soft.

Sometimes when the third young master gets stubborn, he eats neither soft nor hard, and it is hard for others to fathom his thoughts.

If Grandmother really brings up Miss Qu, and the third young master gets angry because of this and ignores this matter, the second mistress won't dare to spend the silver."

……

Jia Mu smiled bitterly: "You girl understand his temperament. This matter really cannot be turned towards Miss Qu, lest someone grab hold of the topic."

Sister Yuanyang pounded Jia Mu's waist again and said: "So this eight thousand taels of silver, without saying any other idle words, should just fall on the West Prefecture's public treasury."

Jia Mu sighed: "If it only falls on the public treasury, I'm afraid this silver won't be easy to spend."

Sister Yuanyang said: "Actually, Grandmother, you are like a bright mirror in your heart and understand everything very clearly.

Although I don't know about other places in the mansion, I handle the daily expenses of our Rongqing Hall, so I am very clear about it.

Although the second mistress has cut down over a hundred people in the past six months, sending them to farms and shops to make a living, not a single person in Rongqing Hall has moved, and two more laundry women have been added.

The monthly expenses of Rongqing Hall are over two hundred taels, which is nearly three thousand taels a year. These are all daily necessities, not counting being too extravagant.

The third young master now lives in the East Prefecture, and the West Prefecture's reputation rests solely on Grandmother. The grandeur of a Duke's super-grade noble title has always had fixed rules and regulations.

If the public treasury spends eight thousand taels of silver at once, not only will everyone in the mansion suffer famine next year, but even Grandmother's expenses will have to be reduced.

If people outside know about these things, it would be too inappropriate. They would mostly say that because of the extravagance of the second young master Baoyu's wedding, Grandmother was shortchanged, losing the filial piety of a grandchild."

Jia Mu's expression became increasingly ugly as she listened to Sister Yuanyang's detailed account, but Sister Yuanyang's words were reasonable and had no flaws.

Jia Mu sighed: "Don't find other excuses for this matter; just let it fall directly on the public treasury. We will spend as much as we can."

Sister Yuanyang stood behind and pounded Jia Mu's back. Hearing Jia Mu's words, she revealed a smile, her bright eyes sparkling, pretty and moving, only Jia Mu did not see it.

……

Rongguo Prefecture, East Courtyard.

After Lady Wang left Rongqing Hall, she went to Baoyu's courtyard to give instructions and saw her son in low spirits.

She asked about the reason, and Baoyu only said that Jia Cong was absurd and had actually deceived a female cultivator into living in the mansion, which was somewhat improper and made people feel heartbroken and angry.

Lady Wang felt bored hearing this. It was already a matter of burning eyebrows, and Baoyu didn't know priorities, still worrying about these nonsense idle matters.

She had always been brooding over Jia Cong playing with Baochai, and now he was even hooking up with a nun to mess around in the mansion. Although she despised it in her heart, she had no time to pay attention to it.

How to find a way to cure her son's problem, how not to let the news leak out, and how to find an excuse to muddle through were Lady Wang's top priorities.

When Lady Wang returned to the East Courtyard and just entered her room, she saw her trusted aide, Zhang Pozi Wang, come in.

Lady Wang asked: "Did you have any progress in arranging the betrothal gifts today? Choose the best items; don't feel sorry for the silver, so as not to lose face."

Zhang Pozi Wang's expression was a bit strange, and she said: "I originally wanted to handle the matter the mistress entrusted, but I encountered an unexpected change, so I could only delay it first."

She walked to Lady Wang's side and whispered in her ear. Lady Wang's expression changed, and she asked: "Is this matter certain!"

Zhang Pozi Wang said: "I have already lured the person to the empty side room in the dowry shop the mistress has in the south of the city, and have tied them up and gagged them.

According to the mistress's instructions, I didn't alarm anyone familiar. It just so happened that I have a distant sister-in-law who married to Tongxian in her early years and has been visiting relatives in the Love Shenjing these few days.

She has always been in this trade and has never failed. I specially invited her over to take a look, and she said it is definitely certain.

My distant sister-in-law will return to Tongxian the day after tomorrow. She is already old and won't come again for five or six years, so there are no future troubles."

Lady Wang's expression became gloomy and cold as she listened to these words, revealing a trace of ruthlessness, which was somewhat different from the gracefulness of a mistress of a big family in the past.

She said: "Go and prepare the carriage; we will go over there immediately..." (End of chapter)